ALL NOVEL chapter 20
Chapter 20: My Choice!
“Leave?”
Mu En’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked toward the door of the room.
The door no longer held the same sense of confinement it once did; it seemed truly capable of being opened.
Instinctively, Mu En grasped the doorknob and pressed down firmly.
Click.
The door swung open.
Through the crack, he could see the bright corridor outside.
A glimmer of joy sparked in Mu En’s eyes.
As long as the door was open, he could escape this place!
However, he did not intend to abandon Celicia; he only wanted to seek help from others!
Only by calling for assistance could he hope to save Celicia!
“Wait.”
Mu En suddenly halted in his tracks.
He sensed something was off.
“The assassin’s accomplice outside should know about this too, but why is she letting me go?”
“She just said… it’s almost over?”
What… is about to end?
Mu En spun around abruptly.
And then, he saw it.
—The maid held a burning dagger, like Death raising His scythe, poised to strike, ready to reap that soul which, even in dire straits, remained proud.
Forward was life.
Backward was death.
In that moment, it felt as if time had frozen.
In the distance, Mu En faintly heard the sound of pages rustling, as if a story had reached its climax, waiting for him to continue the writing that lay ahead.
……
Celia’s eyes reflected the sharp blade and flames.
Despair had completely enveloped her, pressing down on her to the point of breathlessness.
Everything in her line of sight slowed down, as if the slow-motion button had been pressed.
But Celia understood that it wasn’t really time slowing down; in this life-and-death moment, her brain was racing, causing her thoughts to accelerate.
In short, it was like a revolving lantern.
“How embarrassing, I can’t believe I’m going to fall here…”
“Damn you, Mu En Campbell…”
Celia cursed the man she hated most in her heart, but the anger she had moments ago had long faded.
At this point, anger was meaningless.
“He should have escaped by now…”
“Fine, he shouldn’t die here…”
Celia closed her eyes, calmly accepting her fate of death.
“Pfft.”
The sound of the blade piercing flesh rang out as expected.
Scalding blood gushed forth, splattering onto Celia’s face.
Celia didn’t feel pain; on the contrary, she felt a familiar, warm presence enveloping her.
“What—”
She opened her eyes in shock, and her gaze collided with a pair of azure, clear eyes that, at that moment, appeared somewhat dim.
Just like when he invited her to dance at the start of the banquet.
“Ahem, isn’t it a bit too early to give up, my princess…”
Mu En lay on top of Celia, smiling painfully, then coughed up mouthfuls of blood, staining Celia’s pure white gown a shocking red.
“Why…”
Celia widened her eyes in disbelief, the icy look within them seemingly melting away, revealing a panic and confusion like that of a little girl, something she had never shown in front of others.
“Mu En Campbell, why did you save me…”
“Why? Ahem… I’d like to know that too.”
Mu En gasped for breath, the dagger representing death now piercing through his lungs from behind, while the flames that could even defy the laws of deities were fiercely burning his body, bringing excruciating pain that felt as if it would tear his consciousness apart.
“If I had to say… it might… be an impulse.”
“An impulse? Who would act on impulse at a time like this…”
Seeing that Celia clearly didn’t believe him, Mu En could only shake his head helplessly.
But in reality, he did not lie; at that moment, he could have taken a step forward and escaped death.
Yet, when he turned back and saw the dagger raised, about to fall, all thoughts in his mind vanished.
The guilt towards Celicia.
The regret for his own weakness.
The fear of death.
The desire to survive.
All disappeared.
He simply did not want Celicia to die, did not want this character he once cherished most, this girl who appeared so vivid, real, and beautiful before him, to perish.
Moreover, it was his fault.
So, he chose to turn back.
Thus, he stood in front of the Grim Reaper.
It turned out.
The so-called obsession.
Perhaps it was merely his self-deception.
“It seems I truly have intermittent brain freeze syndrome, always acting up at critical moments.”
Mu En couldn’t help but smile wryly.
Just like that time at two in the morning, when he recklessly wanted to draw cards.
Then, due to the excitement of pulling five golds in a ten-draw, he was hit by a passing dump truck.
“Is this time going to end the same way?”
Fortunately, after experiencing death once, it was no longer so terrifying.
“But before that, let me put on one last show; otherwise, I would really be at a loss…”
With that thought, Mu En suppressed the excruciating pain, forced himself to gather his spirits, and tried to smile at Celicia with the elegance and composure befitting a true duke’s son.
“So now… do I look like a man? My lady.”
“You…”
Unfortunately, Mu En did not wait for Celicia’s response.
Darkness engulfed his consciousness.
……
【……】
【Loading progress……】
【Pride Progress: 50%】
—
【Jealousy Progress: 99%】
【Greed Progress: 0%】
【Lust Progress: 0%】
【Sloth Progress: 0%】
【Wrath Progress: 0%】
【Gluttony Progress: -90%】
【……】
【……】
【Please continue to struggle】
【Mu En Campbell】
【My ■■■■】
Deep within Mu En’s consciousness, the black book trembled slightly.
……
“b*stard—”
As she watched Mu En suddenly appear, using his body to block the attack, the maid’s eyes ignited with a ferocious rage.
Soon… it was almost a success, and you, Mu En Campbell, had to show up at this critical moment?
Our target is not you!
“Strange… was I just a bit dazed?”
The maid pressed her forehead, instinctively sensing something was off, but there was no time to ponder those thoughts now.
“Do you think this can stop me? Even if you block this strike, with the blessing of the divine, Princess Celicia is nothing but a lamb waiting for slaughter!”
“Fine, I’ll just stab again!”
The maid gripped her dagger tightly and pulled it out…
Huh?
Why can’t I pull it out?
The maid looked down in confusion, glancing at Mu En.
But she found that where she had stabbed, the luxurious garment shimmered with a hint of golden light, firmly trapping her dagger.
“So it’s this dress that’s peculiar.”
The maid scoffed disdainfully.
As the son of a duke, it’s not surprising to have something that can save your life, but even if it’s a bit special… it’s just a piece of clothing, how can it withstand me?
The maid summoned all her strength, and sure enough, she quickly pulled out the dagger.
—
But the dagger that was pulled out seemed somewhat strange…
“Eh?”
The maid stared blankly at the dagger.
Over there, the dagger shimmered with a cold light, still sharp.
But…
“Where’s my fire?”
That large ball of holy fire bestowed by the divine lord—where did it go?
How could it just vanish?